29
Zach
It was the second week in March, and Zach was supposed to be getting ready to have a grand opening day in a few weeks, but ever since he’d returned home to find Olive gone and a note explaining she was sorry and had left with a friend for London, he could hardly breathe, let alone wake each day and get organised.
‘Zach, eat some breakfast,’ said Cody, pushing a bowl of cereal across the kitchen table.
Zach twiddled with a spoon.
Cody offered a warm smile. ‘I’ve just washed the boats, and the pedalos arrive today. I’m glad you got the one that looks like a car. Should be fun for the punters. Willow wants to go on the swan one. Weather’s milder today. We can all have a turn when they get here. Thought I’d chain them over the left side. What do you think?’
Zach shrugged. ‘I’m not bothered.’ His brother entered his eyeline.
‘I need you to be bothered, Zach. I need you back in the land of the living.’
‘I don’t feel well. You sort everything. You were raised here too. You know what to do.’
‘You’re not sick, you’re just…’ Cody sat opposite him, offering a friendly smile.
A knock at the door didn’t shift Zach, so Cody went to see who it was.
Zach could hear some muffled words, then his brother telling someone to go away. Just for a moment, his heart leapt, thinking it Olive. He knew Cody was annoyed with her for leaving so abruptly, so it was quite possible he wouldn’t let her step foot over the threshold again.
‘Please, Cody,’ said Florence.
Zach stomped out to the hallway. ‘You’ve got some nerve coming around here. Don’t you think you’ve done enough damage?’
Cody stood in his way. ‘You’re not welcome here, Florence, so just go.’ His words were softer, calmer, but she still didn’t move.
‘I need to speak to Zach.’
‘He doesn’t want to talk to you.’
‘But it’s important.’
Zach was suddenly worried in case Florence had heard something bad about Olive. What if she was in trouble? Or worse, ill?
‘I know you blame me,’ she said, moving away from Cody’s side to enter the hallway.
Zach scoffed. ‘Might have something to do with it being your fault.’
Florence tapped her chest. ‘I didn’t make Olive leave. I didn’t do anything to her.’
‘Yeah, so you keep saying.’ Zach rolled his eyes.
‘Well, I’ve got proof now.’
Cody’s eyes widened. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean I didn’t do anything to Olive except smack her in the face when I first saw her. I shouldn’t have done that, and I did apologise to her, and when I spoke to Tiggy, she was upset I’d blamed Livvy.’ Florence dipped back to one heel. ‘Just so you know, I was going to speak to Olive again after I saw her at the fete, but I didn’t get a chance to.’
Zach huffed. ‘Yeah, because you run her out of town.’
Florence frowned. ‘I did no such thing.’
Cody stepped closer to her. ‘Look, Florence, maybe now’s not the best time to—’
‘It’s most definitely the best time.’ She peered around him. ‘After you accused me of all sorts, I spoke to my boss at Island News , and I asked him to help me. He called in a few favours, and he just told me who set the reporters on Liv. I came straight here to let you know, because I’m sick to my back teeth with you blaming me.’
Zach looked at Cody before returning his gaze to the disgruntled woman in his face. ‘It wasn’t you?’ he asked quietly.
‘No,’ snapped Florence, crossing her arms. ‘It was a woman called Candice Burton.’
‘Candice?’ said Cody.
Florence turned to him. ‘Do you know her?’
Cody nodded. ‘Zach’s ex.’
‘Well, that explains that.’ Florence’s glare demanded an apology, but Zach was still wound up to respond.
Cody gestured at the door. ‘Thanks for clearing that up, Florence, and, erm, sorry about the mix-up.’
Florence huffed. ‘Sorry, my arse! He hasn’t said it.’
Zach inhaled deeply. ‘I’m sorry, Florence. But all arrows pointed your way.’
‘Yes, I understand, but still, benefit of the doubt would have been nice. I told you it wasn’t me hating on Liv, but you didn’t believe me. Well, at least now my name is in the clear, thanks to me, and my boss.’
Cody followed her to the door. ‘We are sorry, Florence. You didn’t need this headache either.’
‘No, I didn’t.’ Florence sighed loudly and looked over at Zach. ‘Look, I know Livvy went to London, perhaps I can try and reach out to her there. Let her know about Candice. It might make a difference.’
Zach shook his head as he turned away, heading back to the kitchen. ‘No, leave her. She made her choice.’ He heard Cody’s muffled voice, then the door close.
‘Let’s get back to you eating something, yeah?’ said Cody, plodding in the kitchen.
‘Why did Candice do this?’
‘Because she’s jealous. Because she’s horrible. Who knows why some people are nasty.’
Zach made his way towards the stairs. ‘I’m going back to bed.’
Cody sprinted after him, blocking his way. ‘No, you’re not. Candice took from you once before. Don’t let her do it again. You need to get washed, get dressed, and get back to work.’
Zach focused on his brother’s white trainers. ‘It’s not her.’
‘Like you said, Olive made her choice.’ Cody’s voice was lower, gentler, but it didn’t soothe him.
‘I just need a few days.’
‘You’ve had enough time, Zach. I’ll not let you fade away. You’re the strongest person I know, and you can get through anything. I need you to be okay. Mum and Grandad need you to open our family business. And I need you to help me be a good father.’
Zach looked up.’ What?’
Cody grinned, water filling his eyes. ‘Yep. Willow’s pregnant. You’re going to be an uncle.’
Zach flung his arms around his brother, almost toppling him over. ‘Ah, Cody, this is brilliant.’
‘I know. Now do you see why you need to bounce back? We’ve got another Sullivan on the way, and I can’t do this without you.’
Zach pulled back, pride filling every fibre of his being. ‘You, young man, can do anything. Don’t forget that.’
‘Yeah, well, you’re not just my big brother, you’re like my dad. You’re my role model, and when I say I need you, I mean it. Zach, let’s make everything stable ready for the little one.’
‘Okay.’
Cody didn’t look convinced. ‘Really?’
‘Yeah. Family is important. Mum would be decorating a nursery by now if she was here.’
‘It is a four-bed house, so off you go. Little Sully will need a room here for when you babysit.’
Zach laughed, and it felt good. He had hoped Olive would look at him as family, but he could see now his life wasn’t for her. At least she would find peace somewhere else. He hoped.